Michael R. Buche

Research and Development
Sandia National Laboratories

Career

Senior Member of the Technical Staff

Sandia National Laboratories
2022-Current

Postdoctoral Appointee

Sandia National Laboratories
2021-2022

Education

PhD, Theoretical and Applied Mechanics

Cornell University
2021

MS, Theoretical and Applied Mechanics

Cornell University
2020

BS, Mechanical Engineering

University of Notre Dame
2017

Papers

Separating intrinsic and extrinsic uncertainty using a hierarchical Bayesian approach with scientific machine learning to learn implicit yield surface models

Donovan Birky, Anthony M. Su, Michael R. Buche, Craig M. Hamel, John M. Emery, Jacob D. Hochhalter
Under Review (2026)

Polydisperse polymer networks with irregular topologies

Jason P. Mulderrig, Michael R. Buche, Matthew J. Grasinger
Under Review (2026)

automesh: Automatic mesh generation in Rust

Chad B. Hovey, Michael R. Buche
Journal of Open Source Software 10 (105), 8768 (2025)

Statistical mechanical model for crack growth

Michael R. Buche, Scott J. Grutzik
Physical Review E 109 (1), 015001 (2024)

Modeling single-molecule stretching experiments using statistical thermodynamics

Michael R. Buche, Jessica M. Rimsza
Physical Review E 108 (6), 064503 (2023)

Freely jointed chain models with extensible links

Michael R. Buche, Meredith N. Silberstein, Scott J. Grutzik
Physical Review E 106 (2), 024502 (2022)

Chain breaking in the statistical mechanical constitutive theory of polymer networks

Michael R. Buche, Meredith N. Silberstein
Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids 156, 104593 (2021)

Force-mediated molecule release from double network hydrogels

Pavithra B. Jayathilaka, Thomas G. Molley, Yuwan Huang, Md Shariful Islam, Michael R. Buche, Meredith N. Silberstein, Jamie J. Kruzic, Kristopher A. Kilian
Chemical Communications 57 (68), 8484-8487 (2021)

Statistical mechanical constitutive theory of polymer networks: The inextricable links between distribution, behavior, and ensemble

Michael R. Buche, Meredith N. Silberstein
Physical Review E 102 (1), 012501 (2020)

Bridging experiments and theory: Isolating the effects of metal-ligand interactions on viscoelasticity of reversible polymer networks

Xinyue Zhang, Vuval Vidavsky, Sinai Aharonovich, Steven J. Yang, Michael R. Buche, Charles E. Diesendruck, Meredith N. Silberstein
Soft Matter 16 (37), 8591-8601 (2020)

Tuning the mechanical properties of metallopolymers via ligand interactions: A combined experimental and theoretical study

Vuval Vidavsky, Michael R. Buche, Zachary M. Sparrow, Xinyue Zhang, Steven J. Yang, Robert A. DiStasio Jr., Meredith N. Silberstein
Macromolecules 53 (6), 2021-2030 (2020)

Presentations

Automating and accelerating adaptive hexahedral mesh generation from segmentation

Michael R. Buche, Chad B. Hovey
17th World Congress on Computational Mechanics and 10th European Congress on Computational Methods in Applied Sciences and Engineering (2026)

Rapid hexahedral mesh generation with adaptivity and conformity

Michael R. Buche, Chad B. Hovey
3rd Solid Mechanics Analysis Resource and Technical Exchange (2026)

Modularity and simultaneity in constitutive model applications

Michael R. Buche
Materials and Failure Modeling Technical Retreat (2026)

Cohesive surface elements compatible with 10-node composite tetrahedral elements

Michael R. Buche, Michael G. Veilleux, James W. Foulk III, Scott J. Grutzik
18th U.S. National Congress on Computational Mechanics (2025)

Fast and automatic mesh generation from segmentation

Michael R. Buche, Chad B. Hovey
2nd Solid Mechanics Analysis Resource and Technical Exchange (2025)

General approximation of single-chain models with extensible links

Michael R. Buche, Matthew J. Grasinger, Jason P. Mulderrig
March Meeting of the American Physical Society (2025)

Progress and challenges in the development of the composite wedge localization element

Michael R. Buche, Michael G. Veilleux, Ellen B. Wagman, John M. Emery, Alejandro Mota, James W. Foulk III
16th World Congress on Computational Mechanics and 4th Pan American Congress on Computational Mechanics (2024)

Background and applications of statistical thermodynamics

Michael R. Buche
Materials and Failure Modeling Technical Retreat (2024)

Applying genetic programming symbolic regression to solid mechanics

Michael R. Buche, Craig M. Hamel, Anthony M. Su, Harshita Narang, John M. Emery, Coleman Alleman, Brian T. Lester, Donovan Birky, Karl M. Garbrecht, Jacob D. Hochhalter, Geoffrey F. Bomarito
1st Solid Mechanics Analysis Resource and Technical Exchange (2024)

A perspective on statistical physics in constitutive modeling

Michael R. Buche
March Meeting of the American Physical Society (2024)

Developing a composite wedge localization element

Michael R. Buche, Michael G. Veilleux, John M. Emery, Ellen B. Wagman, Alejandro Mota, James W. Foulk III
17th U.S. National Congress on Computational Mechanics (2023)

An asymptotic approach for the statistical thermodynamics of certain model systems

Michael R. Buche, Scott J. Grutzik, Meredith N. Silberstein
March Meeting of the American Physical Society (2023)

Genetic programming for interpretable, data-driven continuum damage models

Michael R. Buche, Anthony M. Su, Harshita Narang, John M. Emery, Jacob D. Holchhalter, Geoffrey F. Bomarito, Coleman Alleman
10th International Conference on Multiscale Materials Modeling (2022)

Defending fundamental theories for the mechanics of polymer chains and networks

Michael R. Buche
Cornell University, Dissertation Defense (2021)

Proposing fundamental theories for the mechanics of polymer chains and networks

Michael R. Buche
Cornell University, Admission to Candidacy (2020)

Statistical mechanics and related constitutive theory for polymer networks

Michael R. Buche
Cornell University, Mechanics Student Seminar (2020)

Investigating organometallic crosslinked polymers with density functional theory

Michael R. Buche, Zachary M. Sparrow, Vuval Vidavsky, Robert A. DiStasio Jr., Meredith N. Silberstein
56th Annual Technical Meeting of the Society of Engineering Science (2019)

A quantum chemistry simulation strategy for dynamic network polymers

Michael R. Buche, Zachary M. Sparrow, Vuval Vidavsky, Robert A. DiStasio Jr., Meredith N. Silberstein
Multiscale Mechanochemistry and Mechanobiology (2019)

Quantum chemistry simulations for dynamic network polymers

Michael R. Buche, Zachary M. Sparrow, Vuval Vidavsky, Robert A. DiStasio Jr., Meredith N. Silberstein
March Meeting of the American Physical Society (2019)

Proceedings

Challenges and strategies for testing automation practices at Sandia National Laboratories

Miranda Mundt, Jonathan Bisila, Reed Milewicz, Joshua Teves, Michael R. Buche, Jonathan Compton, Jason M. Gates, Kirk T. Landin, Gerald Lofstead
1st Annual Conference of the U.S. Research Software Engineer Association (2023)

DevOps pragmatic practices and potential perils in scientific software development

Reed Milewicz, Jonathan Bisila, Miranda Mundt, Sylvain Bernard, Michael R. Buche, Jason M. Gates, Samuel A. Grayson, Evan Harvey, Alexander Jaeger, Kirk T. Landin, Mitchell Negus, Bethany L. Nicholson
8th International Congress on Information and Communication Technology (2023)

Professional

Advances in discretization techniques, element technology, mesh adaptivity, and solution strategies for inelasticity, contact, localization, and failure

James W. Foulk III, Alejandro Mota, David R. Noble, Michael R. Buche, Brandon L. Talamini, Michael R. Tupek, Julian J. Rimoli
17th World Congress on Computational Mechanics and 10th European Congress on Computational Methods in Applied Sciences and Engineering (2026)

Topological heterogeneity and mechanical behavior in network materials

Jason P. Mulderrig, Matthew J. Grasinger, Michael R. Buche
62nd Annual Technical Meeting of the Society of Engineering Science (2025)

Advances in discretization techniques, element technology, mesh adaptivity, and solution strategies for inelasticity, contact, localization, and failure

James W. Foulk III, Alejandro Mota, David R. Noble, Michael R. Buche, Brandon L. Talamini, Michael R. Tupek, Julian J. Rimoli, N. Sukumar
18th U.S. National Congress on Computational Mechanics (2025)

Advances in discretization techniques, element technology, mesh adaptivity, and solution strategies for inelasticity, localization, and failure

Alejandro Mota, David R. Noble, Michael R. Buche, Brandon L. Talamini, Michael R. Tupek, Julian J. Rimoli, N. Sukumar, James W. Foulk III
16th World Congress on Computational Mechanics and 4th Pan American Congress on Computational Mechanics (2024)

Materials response - fracture, failure, and material model advancements

Andrew J. Stershic, Michael R. Buche, Stacy M. Nelson
1st Annual Solid Mechanics Analysis Resource and Technical Exchange (2024)

Statistical physics in constitutive modeling

Michael R. Buche
March Meeting of the American Physical Society (2024)

Recognition

H.D. Block Teaching Prize

Michael R. Buche
Cornell University (2021)

H.D. Block Teaching Prize

Michael R. Buche
Cornell University (2019)

Reports

Efforts to stabilize composite localization elements

Alvin Chen, Michael R. Buche
Sandia National Laboratories 09923R (2025)

Laplace's method applied to functional integrals

Michael R. Buche
Sandia National Laboratories 02140R (2024)

Theory and implementation of the Spectacular nonlinear viscoelastic constitutive model

Kenneth N. Cundiff, Michael R. Buche, Brandon L. Talamini, Scott J. Grutzik, Jamie M. Kropka, Kevin N. Long
Sandia National Laboratories 14317 (2023)

Chemical controls on the propagation and healing of subcritical fractures

Anastasia G. Ilgen, Michael R. Buche, R. Charles Choens, Karin A. Dahmen, Frank W. DelRio, Michael Grünwald, Scott J. Grutzik, Jacob A. Harvey, William M. Mook, Pania Newell, Jennifer E. Wilson, Jessica M. Rimsza, Jordan J. Sickle, Qiaoyi Y. Wang, Derek H. Warner
Sandia National Laboratories 09478 (2023)

Stress intensity thresholds for development of reliable brittle materials

Jessica M. Rimsza, Kevin T. Strong Jr., Michael R. Buche, Reese E. Jones, Craig Y. Nakakura, Noah Weyrauch, Richard Brow, Jessica M. Duree, Kelly S. Stephens, Scott J. Grutzik
Sandia National Laboratories 12758 (2022)

Fundamental theories for the mechanics of polymer chains and networks

Michael R. Buche
Cornell University, Dissertation (2021)

Solutions

Student Solutions to Accompany Taylor's an Introduction to Error Analysis

John R. Taylor, Peter N. Saeta, Michael R. Buche
University Science Books (2024)

Mathematical Methods in Engineering, Solutions Manual

Michael R. Buche
Cambridge University Press (2019)